[Missinnyc]

This is sort of embarassing, but what the heck, I figure you ladies have heard it all, right?

Background- I am due with #4 in about 3 weeks. I had been having a ton of BH contrax since about 25 weeks I've had them nightly for hours, about 10 mins apart. Of course as soon as I hit 36 weeks, they stopped almost completely. The BH contrax felt like an uncomfortable tightening and pressure, but not much pain.

But for the last few days I have started having different contrax. Lower, more crampy, more menstrual. Last night I had them for about 2 hours, about 5-6 mins apart, regularly. I would describe them as uncomfortable, verging on painful, but not bad or anything. I woke up all night with the same contrax.

Then it occured to me that I took a lot of iron this week, because I knew I was slightly anemic and my MW was retesting my blood this week. I took 2 iron pills every day, in addition to my regular prenatal, which has iron. I also ate more red meat than usual. As a result, I am quite, er.... backed up. Can constipation cause contractions? I ate some prunes today, and had some apple juice and veggies last night to try to improve things.

So IYE, can constipation cause contractions?

Thanks!

 

[mysticmomma]

Totally possible.

 

[kalamos23]

nak - It could also be prodromal labor.

 

[lillyfire]

Just have to add that when I'm backed up, eating a bowl of steel cut oats for breakfast (usually with dried fruit, but sometimes without) seems to get things moving by the end of the day. Never fails for me!

 

[TzippityDoulah]

yes to both! constipation can cause contractions (so can a full bladder). anything that is putting pressure on your uterus can cause contractions. BUT you could also being dealing with some prodromal labouring.

(I am currently dealing with... BOTH!!! so when I read your post I about died - I had to respond. for me it's not the iron, so much as the baby is so low my umm... well.. bowels are squished! AND I have been in prodromal labour for 3 weeks now aside from that. I'm having a rather uncomfortable day as you can imagine)

you might notice once you get things "moving along" you'll have more contractions again for a while. or maybe it will even stimulate real labour for ya (and if it does, then call me jealous! haha)

 

[wbg]

Not sure the answer to your initial post, but wanted to say, I always have very low iron during pregnancy. I take a double dose of liquid floradix, combined with beetroot capsules, yellow dock tincture and high iron foods and orange juice. The liquid floradix combined with the yellow dock means that there is no constipation at all, and my iron levels increase dramatically. Might want to discuss it with your MW.

 

[sewaneecook]

If you want an iron supplement that doesn't cause constipation, try Floradix!

 

[caned & able]

Iron is notorious for causing constipation, particularly ferrous sulfate. Drink some orange juice or take a vitamin C supplement with your iron supplement to keep everything moving along and enhance absorption.

See if you can get some ferrous fumerate or gluconate.

 

[yogafeet]

FWIW this is exactly how I would describe my whole labor. I thought I was constipated, and then it turned out to be labor- really painful low, low, low, got to the hospital and was complete and ready to push!

 

[TzippityDoulah]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sewaneecook If you want an iron supplement that doesn't cause constipation, try Floradix!

I second that!

 

[nashvillemidwife]

Do you drink enough water? Dehydration (or under-hydration) can cause both constipation and contractions. Iron is likely the main culprit for the constipation, but both can often be relieved by simply increasing your fluid intake.